13th Pureland Patriarch Yin Guang
The pureland practice is suitable for all capacities. People think that since uneducated, stupid men and women can recite Amitabha, this practice must be for such people. In the end, (when they reach the pureland), it is these ‘stupid’ people who take pity on those ‘smart’ people whose practice lacks true wisdom.
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Nowadays, the country is in deep unrest and war and its citizens are suffering, this is caused by those in power. Such powerful people have accumulated merits in their past lives, but they did not seek rebirth in the pureland. Therefore, in this life, they harm others and destroy the country by using the power of these ripened merits.
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(Referring to another practitioner) Seeing light when she is reciting Amitabha is a demonic state. You should write to her immediately and tell her not to regard it as something good. After some time, the demonic state will subside naturally. If she regards it as sacred, I’m afraid she will be possessed by some demon or spirit before long. If her mind gets entranced by this mara and becomes mentally unhinged, nothing can help her.
Actually, we all have countless karmic debts of enmity from beginningless time. These karmic creditors wish to seek their revenge, however, because you are reciting Amitabha and practicing, they are unable to act. This lady wished subconsciously for some good states to appear in her practice, therefore her karmic creditors manifested those states. This made her happy and she imagined that she has attained something in her practice or even accomplished the noble path.
When a strong attachment is developed to this idea, she will lose mindfulness. The demon can then enter through her orifices and drive her mad. Even Buddha cannot save her then. Many practices in this world have caused people to go crazy because they do not know how to place emphasis on not following discursive thoughts and on directing the mind with mindfulness.
Instead, some practitioners seek to become special and holy, they fantasize about gaining some divine state. Like drinking poison, they become confused, intoxicated and ignorant. Everything is upside-down. They pursue things that are mysterious and strange. The truth is their thoughts and inclinations only draw the demons and ghosts to them.
You should teach her to recite Amitabha one-pointedly. Besides Amitabha, she should not think of other things. As the fog clears up, the sun will naturally be seen with full brilliance in the sky. The benefits of concentrating on Amitabha with one mind and the harmful effects of always seeking some special state is repeatedly explained in my collected writings. Please send her a set of this and tell her to try her best to follow my words. Do not regard this state she is experiencing now as authentic.
When such states arise, do not feel happy or fearful about it, then the state will dissolve by itself. For instance, if a thieving person entered one’s home and you regarded him as your family member, you will suffer great losses. If you know him to be a thief and become very paranoid, that will also harm you. If you feel neither happy nor fearful and ignore him, then there is no way for him to establish himself in your home.
